Thomas
Hamlet
Hamlet,"Ambroise Thomas","Thomas’s Hamlet (1868) reimagines Shakespeare through French grand opera, focusing on Hamlet, Ophelia, Claudius, and Gertrude. With ballet scenes, ghostly apparitions, and Ophelia’s famous mad scene, it differs from Shakespeare by allowing Hamlet to survive in some versions. Premiering at the Paris Opera, it became Thomas’s greatest success and remained in the repertoire for decades before modern revivals renewed interest."
First Performance:
Hamlet,"Ambroise Thomas","Premiered 9 March 1868 at the Paris Opéra. A major success, remaining in the repertoire for decades and becoming Thomas’s most celebrated operatic achievement."
Historical setting:
Hamlet,"Ambroise Thomas","Premiered in 1868 during France’s grand‑opera era, Thomas’s Hamlet reflects Parisian fascination with Ophelia and Romantic reinterpretations of Shakespeare. Its adaptation softened the tragedy, aligning with Second Empire tastes for spectacle, ballet, and psychological melodrama."